A traditional Christmas mincemeat along with a cherry and walnut mincemeat with brandy. One is obviously soaked in brady the other cooked on a low heat in the oven for a couple of hours. Both are good but I must admit I do prefer the cherry and walnut one.
Another job ticked off the list. The puddings made a little earlier than usual as traditionally they are made on stir up Sunday which is the last Sunday before Advent. I also had some beetroot on the hob to simmer ready for pickling.
A few shallots were added and there are now an additional 4 jars ready to go into hampers. What a great thing the slow cooker/crock pot. Whilst I was busy I had the slow cooker going cooking up a beef and ale casserole, using the ale left over from the puddings. It made the perfect meal for the end of a busy day and also a great addition to the freezer. I like to keep the freezer topped up ad it always has a ready meal for those busy days in it.
Served with cranberries and sunflower and pumpkin seed bread. I can report it was delicious. It was followed by apple crumble, one topped with pecans for me. A real treat, I love nuts of any kind.
Finally a lemon drizzle cake was popped into the oven so we have something to cut into during the week.
I have unpacked, caught up with the laundry and given our little cottage a good dusting. It feels good to be home and back into a routine. Beatrice we live on the Isle of Lewis which is an Island off the West Coast of Scotland and travelled down to Lincolnshire in England which is a 2 and a half hour ferry ride and then a 10 hour drive plus stopping times for both us and the dog. There were some restrictions in place but Lincolnshire was not a high risk area. Lockdown happened in England as we returned and travel restrictions started in Scotland on our return. We feel that it was a trip that was needed for all of us for peace of mind and our mental health. We can now go on knowing that my parents are safe and well and ready for both Christmas and the Winter months.
I have made a start on catching up with you all and will endeavour to visit you soon. I have an ever growing list of tasks to get through over the next week or so and lots of craft projects I want to get going on. So, I will finish for now with a thank you for your visit to my humble blog and for your uplifting comments. Stay safe and well wherever you are in the World, this pandemic is not going away anytime soon.
See you soon.
Your cooking and baking is always so wonderful looking!
ReplyDeleteQuestion - do you "can" these jars after filling - I mean put them into a water bath - that sort of thing. Or does the pickling or the alcohol mean that this isn't necessary - especially as items like this will be gifted and probably eaten within the next few months?
I could feel how cozy things were as you did your baking. The timing of your visiting seems to have been perfect, with you back home and tucked in before winter.
ReplyDeleteLots of delicious things are being produced in your kitchen, scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteYou are a good cook. You have so many delicious food to stock up and also enough as gifts. Movement control order has been imposed from today for a month to help curb the spread of the virus.
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell the delicious aromas coming from your kitchen. It's good feeling to have the cupboards well stocked. X
ReplyDeletecome to my house and cook for me!!
ReplyDeleteAll looks lovely as ever. Love the cloth jar toppers.
ReplyDeleteI bet your house smelt gorgeous with all that cooking and baking. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteHello dear Lorraine. I could almost smell the wonderful aromas coming from your kitchen. I love the sight of the jars all lined up on the counter, ready to be given away or eaten. You must love to cook. I don't mind it, but also don't enjoy it like I used to. Watching weight is a big part of it. We sure can't eat like we used to. Tara told me a few weeks ago that she saw the mince pies in the shops in London and thought about bringing them to us last year. They were so delicious! I have never found any as good here in the States.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to visit your parents before lockdown again. Alex made it to London and we facetimed with him, Tara and her family yesterday. They are well and are considered their "bubble" so can continue to see each other. No one goes anywhere else.
Take care my dear friend. Stay warm and healthy and hello to Gerard.
Blessings,
Betsy
Is there anything you can't do? You are an amazing cook and you make everything look so festive and beautiful. Glad you got to visit with your parents. I looked back to catch up with your posts. The Christmas decorated garden center was beautiful. Glad you home safe.
ReplyDeleteYour food sounds delicious and looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is getting so near now!
All the best Jan
You are well prepared for the holiday season. I am swithering whether to make a plum pudding this year as it is doubtful I will have anyone to share it with. But it does make the house smell good!
ReplyDeleteI love to look at the lovely things you make. The jars so beautifully topped with Christmas fabric. You inspire me to take more time to make things look good as well as taste good.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a long trip to go visit your parents. So good to know they're all readied for Winter now.
Your home must smell just wonderful these days. What a good idea to get such a head start on the holiday season. A 10 hour drive is long one! Glad you are home and getting settled once again.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks wonderful and your house must smell delicious. I bet you are glad to be home and settled back in after a 10 hour drive and a ferry. And the weight off your mind about your Mom and Dad being ready for the winter must be awesome.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
You have lovely things going on in your kitchen always! Glad you are safe and sound and snug in your cottage. Have a happy week.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. Your lemon drizzle cake looks delicious! I am impressed with all of your Holiday preparations. It's fun to hear about your meals, too. The recipes are new to me. That was a very long journey that you took. I'm glad it all worked out with your parents and the lockdown schedule.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteI love the Delia Christmas recipes and always make my Christmas cake with her recipe. The mincemeat is great but I'm not making any this year, I just don't need that much.
Your culinary creations all look so fantastic.
xx
You are so industrious! I would love it if you'd share the recipe for the lemon drizzle loaf as I would dearly love to make one just like yours. I enjoyed thinking of you being cozy in your beautiful stone croft house and cooking up a storm. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you managed to see your parents before this second lockdown came about and that you found them well, it's a huge weight off the mind when you see for yourself how loved ones are doing. Your hampers are going to be delicious with all the lovely things you make included in them.
ReplyDeleteOh yum, you are such a great cook, everything is made with love, means it's real cooking right here!
ReplyDeleteHow busy you are cooking, baking, and preserving! Your little abode must have the most wonderful scents drifting through it. Everything looks delicious! xo
ReplyDeleteFirst, Lorraine, thank you for the reply to my comment about where your parents live in relation to yourself. That was quite the journey by water and land, but the peace of mind well worth the journey, also great to see family before the latest lockdowns.
ReplyDeleteThe foods in this post looked so delicious especially the casserole and crumble. I also liked the candy wreath what a great idea because it can also be consumed after being enjoyed.